Altec Lansing inMotion iMmini

At a Glance

[Note: The following review covers both the inMotion iM3 and the inMotion iMmini.]

Altec Lansing's inMotion iM3 and iMmini speaker systems are killer portable speaker solutions for the iPod. They're relatively small and non-bulky, they have great battery life, and they sound good for their size. They'll also appeal -- along with JBL's On Stage and Bose's SoundDock, which provide better sound but don't offer battery-powered portability -- to people who want a good office/bedroom/kitchen system but don't want to deal with the cable clutter of more "full-sized" computer speaker systems. If you travel a lot, or even if you just need to be able to move your music from room to room, I recommend checking them out.

In terms of which model to get, if you've got a standard iPod your decision is easy: The iM3 is the only one that fits. If you've got an iPod mini, you've got a tougher choice. The iMmini is a perfect aesthetic match for the iPod mini, but the iM3 seems slightly sturdier and I really like the remote control and the international power adapter included with the iM3. Whether the iM3's advantages are worth paying an extra $50 for is something you'll have to decide for yourself.